. >>> in up state new york, two firefighters are dead and two others are wounded after police say a gunman started shooting at them as they reported to a fire. the suspected gunman served 17 years in prison for beating his grandmother with a hammer. we have more on the deadly christmas eve attack. >> reporter: a predawn call to the volunteer west webster new york fire department to put out this house blaze ended in tragedy. firefighters were met with gunfire. one of the injured describe the scene in a call for help to a radio dispatcher. >> we're being shot at multiple times, multiple fires have been shot. i think it's an assault rifle. we have multiple fire, down, working fire. >> reporter: two firefighters were killed one of whom worked as a police officer, two others were seriously wounded. >> this is still an active investigation but i will say that it appears it was a trap. >> reporter: police arrived and opened fire on the shooter. authorities say the gunman who took his own life is identified at 52-year-old william spangler he had a criminal past. >> spangler is a convicted felon, h